• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

PIANIST (young) patronised by the Verdurins: I 265–66; his aunt: 266–67, 287–88, 368, 414–15; plays Vinteuil’s sonata: 290–91, 297–302, 308–9, 373–74. (Is this pianist Dechambre? q.v.)

PIERRE, M. Historian of the Fronde. Visits Mme de Villeparisis; “solemn and tongue-tied”: III 252; his insomnia: 257, 289; his ignorance of social customs and of botany: 285–88; mocked by the Duc de Guermantes: 319–22 (see abo 265–67, 304, 308–11).

PIERRE. Club doorman, writes M. de Charlus an intimate letter: V 51.

PIPERAUD, Dr. Combray doctor: I 75.

PLASSAC, Walpurge, Marquise de. Her town-house: III 785. Calls on her cousin the Duc de Guermantes, with her sister Mme de Tresmes, to report on Amanien d’Osmond’s state of health; her walking-stick: 788–90. Brings news of Amanien’s death: IV 169.

POICTIERS, Duchesse de. Cousin of Saint-Loup, who recommends her to M as a substitute for his aunt Oriane—“a very good sort”: III 192–93.

POIRÉ, Abbé. Dreyfusist priest confided in by both the Prince and the Princesse de Guermantes: IV 147–50.

POIX, Princesse de. Intimate friend of Oriane de Guermantes, attends Alix’s “Fridays”: III 261. Visits Gilberte de Saint-Loup: V 909.

POMMELIÈRE, Marquise de la. Nicknamed “la Pomme;” the Princesse de Guermantes’s inane remark about her: IV 80.

PONCIN, M. Senior judge from Caen, on holiday at Balbec: II 345–48, 362, 382–83. Becomes Commander of the Legion of Honour: IV 205. His delight on hearing of M’s arrival at Balbec: 209, 221–22. Condoles with M’s mother: 230. His mistake as to the identity of the Princesse de Parme: 252. Doffs his hat to the Marquise de Cambremer: 276. His frustrated snobbery: 299–302, 591–92 (cf. Toureuil, Judge).

PONCIN, Mme. Wife of the above. Her social resentment and disapproval: II 348–49, 361–62. Her misapprehensions about Mme de Villeparisis and the Princesse de Luxembourg: 383–84. Observes the passers-by on the esplanade: 503–4. Regards M. de Cambremer as a man of supreme aristocratic distinction: IV 423.

PORTEFIN, Berthe, Duchesse de. Helps Mme de Villeparisis with her theatricals: III 289–90. Admired by Morel: V 423.

POULLEIN. Guermantes footman, prevented from going to see his fiancée; Françoise’s sympathy for him: III 193, 202, 417, 510, 578. Mme de Guermantes changes his day off out of jealousy and spite: 662–63, 675, and insists on his staying in when the Duke allows him a night out: 805–6.

POUSSIN, Mme. Lady from Combray on holiday at Balbec with her daughters; nicknamed “Just You Wait;” her absconding son-in-law: IV 231–32.

PUBLISHER from Paris. Visits La Raspelière; “not smart enough for the little clan”: IV 411.

PUPIN, M., daughter of. Schoolgirl at Combray: I 76.

PUTBUS, Baroness. Patient of Dr Cottard: I 373–74. Described by Mme de Guermantes as “the dregs of society”: IV 167–68. Invited to La Raspelière: 206–8. Friend of Princess Sherbatoff: 375. No longer expected at La Raspelière: 449. Extremely prudish: V 266. Arrives in Venice on the day of M’s departure: 883.

PUTBUS, Maid of Mme. Said by Saint-Loup to frequent brothels, to be partial to women, and to be “wildly Giorgionesque”: IV 127, 129. M’s desire for her: 166–67, 206–8. M dreads her arrival in Balbec, because of Albertine: 325, 345. Sister of Théodore, of Combray: V 411.

RACHEL. M meets her in a brothel and nicknames her “Rachel when from the Lord”: II 206–7. Mme de Villeparisis’s allusion to her liaison with Saint-Loup: 420. Saint-Loup’s love for her:430; he telegraphs her every day: 448; her influence over him; her mercenariness; their quarrels: 492–97. Her performance chez Oriane: 498–99 (cf. III 299–300 et sqq.; VI 76). Rupture and reconciliation with Saint-Loup: III 156–62. Saint-Loup invites M to meet her; her house on the outskirts of Paris; M’s stupefaction on discovering that Robert’s mistress is “Rachel when from the Lord”: 201–13. Her two different selves: 213–16. In the restaurant; her literary talk; her Dreyfusism; ogles the waiters and other customers; Robert’s jealousy; her maliciousness; quarrel and reconciliation: 216–28. In